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Victorian Occult and Spiritualism

“Throughout the mid to late Victorian period, Spiritualism was associated with a wide range of ancient and contemporary supernatural phenomenon including Christian miracle, witchcraft and sorcery, apparitions of the living and dead, haunted houses, fairies, and second sight.

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Sensational Women: Victorian Ladies of the Supernatural

Powerful women were not a new invention for the Victorian Age, however, there had never been women quite like this. While there is a rich history of witch trials in England and many parts of the world, there was never before such an embrace of witches or those involved with magic and the supernatural. Not only were these women now emboldened with powers from the beyond, they were also accepted as equal to the men in the field as well. 

   This also ties into ideas and conceptions of “The Modern Woman”. What does she look like? How does she act and behave? What social status does she have? Artists and writers attempted to capture her through various forms, but what exactly did they capture? The Pre-Raphaelite art depicts women of strength, wisdom, and power. Novels of the time, like Jane Eyre, and Dracula show independent women, full of agency, and taking on their problems rather than relegating them to the men in their lives. Women were allowed to have power. Women were allowed control over themselves and their lives.

    While this idea may seem good on paper and depicted in art, one may seem skeptical of it’s action in the real world. The Spiritualist movement of the mid to late 1800′s allowed for this revolutionary idea to function in a broad, and quite sensational way. Seances, tarot readings, contact with spirits allowed for the general population to take part in something beyond themselves. It allowed them to experience some semblance of control over the supernatural. 

In addition to providing women with a new outlet for creative control, this movement also engaged in the spiritual and physical. Seances in particular brought the spiritual and supernatural into contact with the physical form. Lights and ghostly figures could be seen. Strange noises were heard, and odd sensations were felt by the participants. 

Rituals conducted by the Golden Dawn members were also highly sensory based. Many relied on pagan and Eastern rituals to invoke a spirit, angel, or demon and posses it’s power. Engaging in the senses seems to be a key part of the Order’s practices. Alchemy was also studied and employed by the Order, as well as burnt offerings (usually of herbs), dances, and meditation were all commonly used during rituals. 

Women, more so than men, were the leaders of these occult and spiritualist studies and practices. Mediums of the Victorian Age were commonly women, and there were a number of women in the Order of the Hermetic Dawn, as well as in other supernatural societies. Many were also avid first wave feminists and suffragettes, and would use their powers to further their cause. 

Throughout the Spiritualist and Occult movement in Victorian society, women played a titular role in shaping, and leading it forward towards the new century. This tradition continued from its beginnings in the 19th Century into the 20th Century with the resurgence of pagan-based magic in the 1960s and 1970s through the founding of Wicca. New Age religions of the 21st Century also rely on the traditions and writings of the Victorian Era. Not only have ideas of magic and spiritualism survived, but also the representation of strong and powerful women utilizing their powers. It would be hard to imagine our modern society without the conventions of gender equality and expression we have come to rely on. Today, we have only the legacy of the powerful and sensational women from before to thank. 

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One of the factions created by former Golden Dawn member Aliester Crowley, Thelema

Life and Liberty are threatened everywhere. We need a Watchword and a Banner for the battle. We need a Principle on which to reconstruct. And so: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

A propaganda flyer created by Blazing Star O.T.O.

Frater 440.’. 93 93/93

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The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

The Order was founded in 1887, their purpose was to explore and study spiritualism, occultism, and other supernatural phenomenons. The Order was similar to Masonic Lodges, but open to everyone, instead of just men. Francis King, writer on the Occult stated “ (it) included over 100 members of every class of Victorian society.” 

 Some famous Members include: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Aleister Crowley, Bram Stoker, W.B. Yeats, A.E. Waite, and Maud Gonne among many others. Many of these members (including Crowley and Waite) created their own Tarot Decks,  which are now used widely among magic practitioners as well as beginners. 

The Order officially ended in 1903, after many social, and theological differences between members. The tradition continues today with factions and similar groups like Thelema, Wicca, and various other Golden Dawn Temples.  

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Crowley in traditional dress of the Golden Dawn, 1910

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Example of a personal Alter used by those who continue the traditions created by the Order of the Golden Dawn

“Indubitably, Magick is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgement and practice than in any other branch of physics.”

- Aleister Crowley: The Confessions of Aleister Crowley

This is a fantastic Goetic/Solomonic set up! This kind of care and attention really makes such a difference, (I can’t really comment on accuracy - but by the looks of it, it is going to be safe!)

Frater 440.’. 93 93/93

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Modern example of Golden Dawn Temple

Holy Order of the Golden Dawn Temple, Toronto

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Biographical Information obtained through this site

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Symbol used in a ritual by The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

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Modern symbol for The Order of the Golden Dawn 

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“This book contains Florence Farr’s ideas on Symbolism, the Kabbalah, Egyptian Magic, the Vedanta, Rosicrucians, Alchemy and the Tree of Life. Edited with Introductory Note by Darcy Kuntz.”

from the website: https://library.hrmtc.com/tag/florence-farr/ 

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Florence Farr Biography Part 2

During her time with the Golden Dawn, Florence began working closely with texts and theories on Egyptology and various esoteric subjects. She worked at the British Museum with Sir. E. Wallis Budge on Egyptology, and the Alchemy of Sir Thomas Vaughn with Rev. William Ayton. Additionally she wrote many books of poems, plays, and novels as well as articles for occult newspapers and journals, and many of the “scrolls” of Golden Dawn texts and rituals as well.

 In 1897, the former head and founder of the Order, William Wescott resigned. Florence took his place, but due to various scandals, infighting, and dissonance among members, she resigned. By 1902, she left the Order entirely. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was officially dismantled by 1903. 

After this, Florence returned to her career as an actor, continued writing, and working with Shaw and Yeats. However, her career did not last that much longer. In 1912 she returned to teaching, and a few years later was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, and died shortly thereafter in 1917. 

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floor display at Museum of Alchemy- Prague, Czech Republic

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“Animal Magnetism”